Nanorods support metal nanoparticle catalysts for high stability and activity

Scientists in Germany have made a new mesoporous material (carbon nitride nanorods) that can chaperone metal nanoparticles. The hybrid nanorods are catalytic and were shown to successively trigger water reduction to form hydrogen then activation of the hydrogen to reduce nitrophenol. The nanorods could potentially be used as a matrix for other nanoparticles, leading to a variety of applications.